http://www.okanaganwines.ca Welcome to the sun-drenched Okanagan Valley, home to world-class vintners and a vibrant wine community. Okanagan Wines offers a wealth of information about the Valley's wineries, wines, events, awards, news and photographs. Wed, 19 Jun 2013 23:17:33 PDT OkanaganWines.ca RSS generator using PHP/5.2.10 Copyright OkanaganWines.ca. All rights reserved. en http://www.okanaganwines.ca/news/52/Black-Hills-2011-Nota-Bene-now-available/ Black Hills Estate Winery has officially made their 2011 Nota Bene available to the public. Winemaker's notes “This complex and delicious blend comes charging out of the glass with a bouquet of blackberry, cherry and chocolate. The palate delivers rich dark fruits with a hint of sage brush and notes of fine cocoa tannins. Notable for its beautiful balance, it should hold well though 2020 or decant and drink now. A great pairing with rich braised or grille meat.” Graham Pierce, Winemaker To order on-line, please click here, or go to the Black Hills website at www.blackhillswinery.com. To order by phone, please call Pauline or Tasha at (250) 498-0666, ext. 1. Tue, 26 Mar 2013 17:00:00 PDT http://www.okanaganwines.ca/news/52/Black-Hills-2011-Nota-Bene-now-available/ http://www.okanaganwines.ca/news/51/Le-Vieux-Pin-releases-two-new-wines/ Two wines are being released today, each coming from challenging vintages in the Okanagan Valley. These years were marked with cooler than typical weather (especially when compared to the scorching heat of 2009). Both 2010 and 2011 required more care and attention both in the vineyard and the winery than 2009 did. These are the type of vintages that separate the best producers from the rest. However, with extremely low yields and plenty of tender loving care in the vineyards both vintages produced very elegant and balanced wines. It has been incredibly rewarding to watch the wines develop in barrel and bottle over the past couple years. For more information, please visiting the following URLs: 2010 Syrah http://www.levieuxpin.ca/dp.asp?Name=147 2011 Ava http://levieuxpin.ca/dp.asp?name=145 Tue, 19 Feb 2013 17:00:00 PST http://www.okanaganwines.ca/news/51/Le-Vieux-Pin-releases-two-new-wines/ http://www.okanaganwines.ca/news/50/LaStella-releases-its-2010-Fortissimo/ LaStella is delighted to release our 2010 Fortissimo Super Tuscan blend. This wine is a mainstay at LaStella and represents the core of what they are trying to accomplish in the South Okanagan. When LaStella was created in 2006 they dreamed of a vignette of Tuscany in their own back yard. Fortissimo is a key element of their vision: an Italian inspired wine created in the South Okanagan Valley. The inclusion of Sangiovese (and in particular the Sangiovese Grosso of Brunello di Montalcino fame) is a clear indication of their commitment to this Italian style. Beyond merely blending in Sangiovese, it is the details during winemaking that bring the vision to life. For more information, please visit the following URL: http://lastella.ca/dp.asp?Name=177 Sat, 02 Feb 2013 17:00:00 PST http://www.okanaganwines.ca/news/50/LaStella-releases-its-2010-Fortissimo/ http://www.okanaganwines.ca/news/49/The-newest-addition-to-the-Tinhorn-Creek-Oldfield-Series/ Several years in the making, the Oldfield Series Cabernet Franc is 100% Cabernet Franc from block 2GHI in their Diamondback Vineyard on the Black Sage Bench. It spent 12 months in a combination of new French and American oak barrels before being bottled. It then spent another nine months bottle aging before its release. Only 374 cases were produced of this Oldfield Series Cabernet Franc 2010 and it will only be available though the winery and at Miradoro Restaurant. The Oldfield Series Cabernet Franc will be released to Crush Club members exclusively from January 15th to 31st and then to the general public on February 1, 2013. It is $34.99 per bottle For a limited time (until February 15, 2013) we will be offering FREE SHIPPING on full case (12 bottles per case) purchases of this wine. For more information, please visit the following URL: http://www.tinhorn.com/product/Oldfield-Series-Cabernet-Franc-2010 Tue, 15 Jan 2013 17:00:00 PST http://www.okanaganwines.ca/news/49/The-newest-addition-to-the-Tinhorn-Creek-Oldfield-Series/ http://www.okanaganwines.ca/news/48/Orofino-Vineyards-Announces-New-Releases/ 2010 CHARDONNAY After missing the 2009 vintage, we are happy to say that our chardonnay 2010 is now available! Sorry to make you wait so long.(We had a few harsh emails about the skipped vintage)! The 2010 is definetely our style of wine. It is big, rich and loaded with meyer lemon and tropical flavours. 40% was fermented and aged in barrel and 60% done in stainless steel. No malolactic fermentation took place to retain bright and fresh flavours. The grapes come from Blind Creek Vineyard which is about a 10 minute walk from the winery. We'll happily drink this over the next 5 years. Only 160 cases produced. 2010 CHILL This is a delicious wine that is made from our old muscat and riesling vines. Those of you who snapped up our Late harvest Muscat will want to stock this pretty wine as it shows all of that delicate orange blossom and floral notes we all love from our muscat wines and has a nice fresh lip-smacking finish that goes on and on. The grapes for this wine were picked and pressed in bone-chilling -14 degree temperatures (extreme icewine conditions!). We made 50 cases of 200ml bottles. It is perfect (and affordable) decadence! Fri, 12 Aug 2011 17:00:00 PDT http://www.okanaganwines.ca/news/48/Orofino-Vineyards-Announces-New-Releases/ http://www.okanaganwines.ca/news/47/Pinot-Noir-Library-Release/ One of the great pleasures for us at the winery is being able to retain a library of past releases of our favourite wines. This month we offer a package of our past releases of fantastic Pinot Noir bottlings. Including vintages of the masculine pinot noir Belle and the feminine pinot noir Perigee, it is a yin-yang of some of BC's best ever pinot noir. Each 6 pack contains - 2x 2005 Belle Pinot Noir - a wine Bruce Schoenfeld once commented reminded him of the wines of Grand Echezeaux 2x 2006 Belle Pinot Noir - a Gold medal winner at the international wine competition in Berlin 2x 2006 Perigee Pinot Noir - a Gold medal winner from Pacific Northwest Wine Press Thu, 11 Aug 2011 17:00:00 PDT http://www.okanaganwines.ca/news/47/Pinot-Noir-Library-Release/ http://www.okanaganwines.ca/news/46/Three-Hot-New-Listings!/ Three hot new listings! Hester Creek Estate Winery introduces two new wines which express the character of the Golden Mile Bench. Character White; a vibrant and luscious blend as tropical fruits and peach greet the nose, the mid palate is supple and layered with a crisp delightful finish. Character Red; a mouth filling complex blend, layered on the nose with a complex mid palate and a silky spicy finish. The third wine in the portfolio is The Judge; a Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc blend. A true expression of the Golden Mile Bench, the grapes for this wine come from some of our estate’s oldest plantings. After 12 to 16 months of aging, special barrels are chosen and blended. The blended wine is then barrelled for an additional 12 months, allowing all the components to marry, creating a wine that is well structured and complex. The primary vintage of The Judge, we’re proud to say, sold out in 5 months. Please visit us in early Spring for the release of the 2008 Judge. Wed, 10 Aug 2011 17:00:00 PDT http://www.okanaganwines.ca/news/46/Three-Hot-New-Listings!/ http://www.okanaganwines.ca/news/45/Seven-Stones-Releases-2009-Cabernet-Franc/ Many have been asking about the release date of our Cabernet Franc 2009. Well, here it is! Last’s year Cabernet Franc sold out in 10 days so we decided to increase our production from 90 cases to 235 cases! The Cabernet Franc 2009 was bottled on March 29th of this year after being aged in new French oak barrels for 17 months. We sent this young wine to the All Canadian Wine Championships and to the Northwest Wine Summit Competition and won silver medals at both competitions! Tasting notes: The nose features fragrances of plum, black pepper, raspberry and toasty vanilla. Layers of elegant and well structured flavors of raspberry, chocolate and coffee on the mid-palate are followed by a soft and spicy finish. It’s simply a marvelous Cabernet Franc! We recommend cellaring this wine as it will get even better with time! Thu, 07 Jul 2011 17:00:00 PDT http://www.okanaganwines.ca/news/45/Seven-Stones-Releases-2009-Cabernet-Franc/ http://www.okanaganwines.ca/news/44/Lieutenant-Governors-Awards-for-Excellence-in-British-Columbia-Wines/ In 2003, the then Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, the Honourable Iona Campagnolo, consulted with wine industry professionals throughout the province to establish the Lieutenant Governor’s Awards for Excellence in British Columbia Wines.The awards program recognizes and honours excellence in wines made from 100% grapes, grown and processed within the province. The winners for 2011 are: Howling Bluff Estate Winery - 2009 Pinot Noir Laughing Stock Vineyards - 2010 Pinot Gris Mt. Lehman Winery - 2009 Viognier Reserve Quinta Ferreira Estate Winery - 2008 Syrah Red Rooster Winery - 2008 Meritage Sandhill Wines - 2009 Small Lots Syrah St. Hubertus and Oak Bay Estate Winery - 2009 Dry Riesling Stoneboat Vineyards - 2009 Pinot Noir Sumac Ridge Estate Winery - 2006 Steller's Jay Brut Volcanic Hills Estate Winery - 2010 Ros?Wild Goose Vineyards and Winery - 2010 Mystic River Pinot Blanc Tue, 05 Jul 2011 17:00:00 PDT http://www.okanaganwines.ca/news/44/Lieutenant-Governors-Awards-for-Excellence-in-British-Columbia-Wines/ http://www.okanaganwines.ca/news/42/Chef-Willi-Franz-named-Canadian-Chef-of-the-Year!/ We are excited to announce that Chef Willi Franz of the Grapevine Restaurant at Gray Monk Estate Winery was awarded Canadian Chef of the Year, by the Canadian Culinary Federation of Chefs and Cooks (CCFCC). The award is given every year to the Chef Member who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession of Culinary Arts and who has demonstrated remarkable commitment to the Canadian Culinary Federation. The Okanagan Chefs Association also recently honoured him as 2010 Chef of the Year, recognized by his peers for his work and commitment to both the association and his profession. Chef Willi sets a very high standard of professionalism in and out of the kitchen. Mon, 20 Jun 2011 17:00:00 PDT http://www.okanaganwines.ca/news/42/Chef-Willi-Franz-named-Canadian-Chef-of-the-Year!/